Sailing sports find their origin in the 16th and 17th centuries in the Netherlands. The first known yaghtboatrace was in 1661, a contest between boats of King Charles II and the Duke of York over 23 miles from Greenwich to Gravesend over the Thames. The first Yaght- and sailingclub was fouded in 1720 as Water Club of Cork in Ireland. At the end of the 19th century Sailing sports became popular. The International Sailing Federation was founded in 1907 and is the motherfederation to all the different classes that are sailing competitively. For more info see Wikipedia.